Groups across Canada call for CBC/Radio-Canada's removal from Bill C-60

Monday, May 27, 2013

By Laura Tribe

This morning CJFE hosted a news conference in the Centre Bloc of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, asking the government to stop interfering with CBC/Radio-Canada.

The conference was held in partnership with the Canadian Media Guild (CMG), the Fédération professionnelle des journalists du Québec (FPJQ), Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada (SCRC), The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), and CWA-SCA Canada.

The seven groups are demanding that CBC/Radio-Canada be removed from Bill C-60 in order to keep the public broadcaster at arm's length from the government.

The groups believe that CBC/Radio-Canada must continue to have be free to hold powerful interests, including government, accountable, which would not be possible if Bill C-60 continues as it is written. The groups argue that "Bill C-60 would give the government veto power and a say in decisions at the largest news organization in the country."

A full-page advertisement in today’s issues of The Globe and Mail and La Presse calls for individuals across the country to tell their MP that CBC must be removed from Bill C-60.